Resident Evil has been around for over 25 years, and it hasn't shown any signs of stopping with the planned Resident Evil 4 Remake and the sequel to Resident Evil Village due to be released in the future.
The games are known for their mixture of camp characters and survival horror which is an unconventional mix but has served the series exceptionally well over its quarter of a century lifespan. However, the brand Resident Evil isn't always enough to pull in a player so good box art can often be the deciding factor between someone picking up a game or skimming past it. Regardless of whether the game itself was good, Resident Evil has always had some interesting cover art.
10 Resident Evil Director's Cut Greatest Hits: PlayStation (NTSC)
Resident Evil Director's Cut was released in 1997, a year after the original game and that version was then re-released in 1998 as part of the Greatest Hits. However, the Greatest Hits release is generally viewed as the inferior version of the two director's cuts by fans as it changed the soundtrack which is widely regarded as a downgrade from the original.
That aside though, the cover art for the Greatest Hits Director's cut of the game was changed from the original and depicts the first zombie encountered by the player from the now infamous Cutscene. Despite the relatively simple artwork, it perfectly encapsulates the horror of the first game and immediately lets players know what's in store for them.
9 Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 is one of the more controversial titles with many fans saying that it was where the series began to decline while others praise it for being a fun but flawed action game. There was certainly a lot of hype surrounding the release of this entry back in 2009, but it was following the legendary Resident Evil 4, so perhaps it was inevitable that Resident Evil 5 would be a disappointment to many.
Resident Evil 5's cover art varies depending on the edition but they all excel when it comes to grabbing players' attention. The original cover has the iconic 5 stylized to look like a glowing scar and the continent of Africa is behind Chris and Sheva which is a subtle addition that elevates the package. The Gold edition is eye-catching too with its cover art looking like a sketch or an oil painting and depicting Jill instead of Sheva.
8 Resident Evil
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The first Resident Evil game was released in 1997, and it was responsible for the surge in popularity of the survival horror genre. While there had been 3D survival horror games before Resident Evil, it was the first to see wide success.
The cover art for the original game and that of the first Director's Cut is unique, to say the least. It depicts a character who is supposed to be Richard holding a weapon that looks like it shouldn't exist, surrounded by the shadows of some familiar enemies in the game. The cover art is iconic and helped captivate the imaginations of players who saw it on store shelves back when it was released.
7 Resident Evil Outbreak File #2
Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 wasn't a sequel that fans expected or even wanted, and it was overshadowed by the release of Resident Evil 4, but it had some interesting ideas and was ahead of its time in many respects as online co-op was still relatively new and rudimentary in many games.
The cover art for Outbreak File #2 differs slightly depending on the region, but it follows the same core design with the hand reaching out from the sewers after being grabbed by zombies. The artwork for this game delivered on the horror front and also helped to convey the co-op aspect.
6 Resident Evil 3 Nemesis
Resident Evil 3 Nemesis is a fan favorite of the franchise, so it's no surprise that it was remade following the success of the Resident Evil 2 Remake. Nemesis was unlike any other monster before it and even to this day, he is still the most distinctive enemy of the series.
Nemesis takes his rightful place on the cover of the original game with much of his appearance being shrouded in the shadows which proves for a nightmare-inducing image. It's clear that Capcom were fans of this cover art too after they re-imagined it for the Resident Evil 3 Remake cover where Nemesis looms over Jill under a veil of darkness.
5 Resident Evil 2 Remake
The original Resident Evil 2 is still one of the most popular entries and its remake followed suit with it being praised almost across the board reassuring fans that the series wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
The cover art for Resident Evil 2 Remake is highly detailed and illustrates the game's emphasis on horror and atmosphere. With the protagonists at the forefront, zombies shambling towards them, and the RPD illuminating the background, this artwork is almost a masterpiece and summarizes the feel of the game flawlessly.
4 Resident Evil Revelations 2
The Resident Evil Revelations spin-off games were solid entries and are generally well-liked by fans with there still being some demand for a follow-up. Resident Evil Revelations 2 was released in 2015 and followed the story of Claire for the first time since Code Veronica.
The cover art is straight out of a horror movie with an eye, which was like an unofficial logo for the Revelations games, behind prison bars. The game was partially set in a prison and had a stronger emphasis on the survival horror aspect than other Resident Evil games released around that time.
3 Resident Evil 2: PlayStation (PAL)
Resident Evil 2 was released in 1998 and has since become one of the quintessential entries in the series and possibly the most celebrated survival horror game ever made.
There were two different covers for the game and while the North American variant is the more widely recognizable one, it's the European version that stands out. It's simple and even looks like it could be a bootleg of the original, but this design only enhances that feeling of uneasiness making it feel like something forbidden that players should be wary of.
2 Resident Evil Outbreak: PlayStation 2 (PAL)
Resident Evil Outbreak and its sequel are often overlooked due to the often clunky and dated multiplayer mechanics. On the other hand, both games made a lot of innovations, and they can be incredibly fun when played with friends, although you'll need an emulator or a Japanese PlayStation 2 to do so.
The European version of the cover is easily the best of the two and looks like a poster for a George A Romero film. The horde of zombies with varying tints to their skin makes for original cover art when compared with other Resident Evil games primarily because it focuses purely on the zombies, something that many games in the franchise forget are a staple of the series.
1 Resident Evil 4: PlayStation 2 (PAL)
Resident Evil 4 has been ported to just about every major platform since its release and so in all that time, there has been a variety of cover art for the game. It's the European version of the game on PlayStation 2 that takes the top spot though and one look at it will make it clear why.
The bright red contrasts perfectly with the black to create an eerie image of the forest that appears at the beginning of the game. That combined with the silhouette of Dr Salvadore and his chainsaw makes for a masterpiece of cover art that wouldn't look out of place as a poster for a big-budget horror movie.